Javier Bardem Has Conflicted Interests Over Best Actress Nominations

Javier Bardem admitted to rooting for his wife Penelope Cruz and his co-star in "Being The Ricardos," Nicole Kidman at the 2022 Academy Awards.

He added that it made sense for him to support his wife, who was nominated for her role in "Parallel Mothers," and his co-star.

"I think both did a fantastic job, but Penelope did something extraordinary because she's nominated for the second time for a role in Spanish—that's really historic. Of course, I am rooting for her," Javier Bardem explained to Deadline. "And I'm also rooting for Nicole, we had an amazing time working together. I'm rooting for Penelope, and then I'm also rooting for Nicole. It makes sense," concluded the Spaniard.

Bardem, who previously won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for No Country for Old Men in 2008, explained to the publication how he and his wife, Penelope Cruz, celebrated their nominations.

"We were on the sofa, cuddled together, waiting to see what was going to happen," he said. "When they announced my nomination first, I was very excited, but it wasn't a true celebration until we heard she was also nominated. We would not be able to truly celebrate together if one of us was disappointed."

He added, "As soon as her nomination came through, we really felt the emotion of what this all means. This really hit us deep in our hearts to be able to share something so beautiful and so special together."

Bardem continued by saying that although it was indeed an "honor to be recognized," it was the nomination of his wife that brought him the most happiness."

"If we were ordinary people, we would do a party. But we're quite boring," he added jocularly.

In February, Cruz spoke to Entertainment Tonight about the possibility of working with her husband again after eleven years. The pair usually starred in movies together, including "Vicky Cristina Barcelona and The Counselor," "Don't Tempt Me," and the 1992 "Jamon, Jamon."

"I would love to," she added of doing a musical with her husband and fellow Oscar winner. "I saw my husband singing in the Ricardos and he did an incredible job. He was feeling the same way I was feeling when I did Nine when I had no idea that I could sing but then Rob Marshall convinced me after doing a couple of tests that I could."

Cruz added, "And then because I danced for 18 years, ballet, and I'm a big fan of the dance world and music, it's such a powerful art for me, even more than cinema, so for me, the genre of musicals is a dream! I've only done it once, so I hope I can repeat it someday."

Jesse Plemons and Kirsten Dunst, who became engaged in 2017, were nominated for Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress, respectively, for Jane Campion's "The Power of the Dog."

In the movie, Dunst portrays Rose Gordon, who gets married to George and moves into his ranch house. Plemon, on the other hand, stars as the long-suffering brother of George, who Benedict Cumberbatch plays.

Dunst admitted to Variety that she broke the news of their nomination to her fiancé while he was at work.

"So Eric Kranzler, my manager, calls me. I'm watching the feed on my phone because my kids are watching cartoons, and Jesse is at work. He had to go to work super early today. [Eric] called me, and he said I was nominated, so I'm crying with my kids. They're like, 'Why the hell is mom crying?' [Eric] calls me back, and meanwhile, I'm in the throes, talking to my mom.

He was like, 'Jesse just …' And I started screaming, and I hung up the phone. Then Megan, one of my publicists, called me because she told me, and I just yelled at her. Then I called Jesse, and I was the first person to say to him, and he was a little shell shocked. I mean, it's just so crazy to be a couple and have our first nominations together. It's like a storybook. Do you know what I mean? It's so weird. It's incredible."

When other actors got wind of their Oscar nominations, they were beside themselves with joy. The "CODA" director, Sian Heder, danced and cried over a voice call with a fellow nominee, and Andrew Garfield started to think up his Oscar speech.

"It's inspiring. I take none of it for granted. It's such a strange thing to be able to do what I love in my life. I know how lucky I am. This is really emotional. It's deeply moving to be honored and recognized in this way. It's very surreal. I keep thinking about myself as a 16-year-old acting student, just wondering if I had what it took or if I was barking up the wrong tree," Garfield concluded.